Issue will come back to council Nov. 10

Historic preservation legislation is scheduled to come before Upper Arlington City Council on Nov. 10.

Historic preservation legislation is scheduled to come before Upper Arlington City Council on Nov. 10.

The city's Preservation Task Force concluded six months of work with a final meeting on Aug. 27. The historic preservation issue has come up periodically over the last several years. It came to the forefront again in the spring of 2007, when property owners demolished a historic home at 1935 N. Devon Road.

The task force, which began meeting in March, formed as a result of legislation that came before council following the Devon Road incident. In response to hundreds of residents who expressed concerns that the legislation might infringe on property rights, council postponed its vote and formed the 22-member task force. The task force was charged with coming up with revised legislation to present to council.

The revised legislation would place restrictions on the demolition of about 1,000 homes in the south-of-Lane historic district. The Upper Arlington Board of Zoning and Planning approved the revised legislation on Oct. 20, sending it on for council approval.

Council members Linda Mauger and Mary Ann Krauss, who served on the task force, presented resolutions of appreciation to other task force members at council's meeting Monday night.

"We had long, long meetings, twice as many as we anticipated," said Mauger, who chaired the Historic Preservation Task Force. "Everyone came with numerous opinions and on all sides of the issues."

The revised legislation doesn't prohibit demolition of historic homes, but instead implements a 180-day waiting period when property owners apply for a demolition permit. The legislation also requires demolition applicants to provide written notification to property owners within 300 feet of the proposed demolition and encourages applicants to meet with preservationists to understand the significance of the property and the surrounding neighborhood.

"BZAP has entertained this legislation and topic at least three times" in previous years, Mauger said. "Now we come forth with É legislation that finds a balance between historic preservation and protecting property rights."

The public will have opportunities to comment on the legislation at the first council reading on Nov. 10 as well second and third readings on Nov. 24 and Dec. 8.